Portable electronic device having a travel mode for use when demonstrating operability of the device to security personnel

ABSTRACT

A portable electronic device having a travel mode for use when demonstrating operability of the device to security personnel, for instance at airport security check points. The travel mode allows the portable device, such as a portable computer, to be turned-on and thereafter turned-off without delay. The travel mode also permits the portable device to simulate attributes of the computer device when the computer device is functioning in a mode other than said travel mode. For instance, the travel mode permits the portable device to make a sound, activate an LED and/or activate a display screen of the device to sufficiently satisfy security concerns without the need to launch application software. The travel mode helps to protect the integrity of firmware/software configurations stored in portable computers, when the computer is powered-down shortly after being turned-on.

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.08/929,710, filed on Sep. 15, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,991,886currently pending. The above-listed Application is commonly assignedwith the present invention and is incorporated herein by reference as ifreproduced herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to portable electronic devices,and more specifically, to portable computers, laptops, notebooks, andother related portable devices.

2. Related Art

Current security measures in most airports throughout the world subjecttravelers with carry-on portable electronic portable devices, such aslaptops, to extra scrutiny. Typically, the traveler with a laptop isrequired to power-it-up, purportedly to demonstrate to security that thelaptop is not masquerading as a more insidious device, such as a bomb.Usually, within a few seconds of pressing the start-up button, and oncethe laptop produces sound and/or screen activation, the securitypersonnel are satisfied and ask the traveler to turn-off the computerand leave the security area.

Deactivation of a laptop before it is fully activated can damage thefile management of the computer. Additionally, some portable computerswill not turn-off until they reach a point in their protocol start-up topermit deactivation. Besides the delay and inconveniences associatedwith waiting for proper deactivation, there are other problemsassociated with attempting to turn-off a portable computer prematurelysuch as depletion of battery reserves, “false turn-offs”, and otherrelated problems.

In particular, a false turn-off occurs when a computer appears to beshutting-down, but remains on. Frequently, the airport traveler is in ahurry, and after pressing the on/off button to turn-off the laptop, thetraveler believes the laptop is powering down because it “beeps;” whenin fact, the laptop remains in an on-state. At this point the travelerusually places the laptop in a travel bag with the laptop running, whichcan completely deplete the battery reserve before the user realizes itis on. Moreover, the laptop encounters dangerous heat levels, since itis running in an enclosed environment, typically in a travel bag, withno air circulation or ventilation.

Thus, what is a needed is a convenient a way to allow travelers toturn-on and shortly thereafter, instantaneously turn-off theirelectronic portable device without damaging the hardware, the operatingsystem, and system and memory configurations associated with the device.This solution would be especially convenient for business travelers whotransport their laptops, as carry-on luggage, through airports.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to portable electronic device having atravel mode for use when demonstrating operability of the device tosecurity personnel. In one illustrious embodiment, a portable computerdevice includes a travel mode that allows the computer device to beturned-on and thereafter turned-off without delay and also permits thecomputer device to execute attributes typically associated when thecomputer device is initially turned-on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sample illustration of the type of portable electronicdevice that can be implemented in accordance with the principles of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the personal portable computer 100,showing in particular, the on/off button 202 according to the generalprinciples of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a general sequence of operation forthe travel mode 300 according the general principles of the presentinvention.

In the figures, arrows between elements denote paths linking signalsand/or information. Such paths may be a bus, wire, optic fiber and thelike in hardware applications or a logical connection for the transferof information in software applications or a combination in hybridhardware/software systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to portable electronic device having atravel mode for use when demonstrating operability of the device tosecurity personnel. FIG. 1 is a sample illustration of the type ofportable electronic device that can be implemented in accordance withthe principles of the present invention. In this example, the electronicdevice is a portable personal computer 100 and includes display lights,such as liquid emitter diodes (LEDs) 102, a display screen 104 and leftand right loud speakers 106. Typically, most laptop computers shortlyafter being turned-on enter a start-up mode wherein the display lights102 are activated, the display screen 104 is activated and diagnosticbeeps or music is generated by the loud speakers 106. It is these typeof attributes that security personnel are interested in observing when atraveler turns-on the computer 100 to demonstrate its operability (andto lessen the threat that the device is masquerading as more insidiousdevice).

As explained above, the problems occur when the computer 100 isturned-off shortly after the computer 100 initiates operation. Thus,according to the principles of the present invention, a personalportable computer 100 includes a travel mode that allows the computer100 to duplicate or substantially simulate attributes of the device(e.g., sound, display screen activation, LED activation) when thecomputer initiates operation without actually launching software thatcould be corrupted or might lock-up the computer 100 from deactivating.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the personal portable computer 100,showing in particular, the on/off button 202 according to the generalprinciples of the present invention. The button 202 includes twosections: a normal mode section (denoted N) 204 and an airport modesection (denoted A and the same as the traveler mode) 206. Accordingly,if a user of the portable computer 100 is traveling, the user caninitiate the traveler mode by depressing the airport section 206 insteadof the normal mode section 204. This button 202 activates in accordancewith the mode selected by the user. It is envisioned that there are manyother ways to initiate activation of the travel mode, for example, bypressing the on/off button in coded fashion (e.g., twice to initiate thetraveler mode).

The travel mode may be implemented in either hardware, firmware, and/orsoftware. In a software embodiment, it is envisioned that the travelmode is a series of instructions (code) stored on a disk or loaded intoROM (not shown) of the portable personal computer 100. If a flag is set(not shown) indicating that the travel mode is selected, then thecomputer central processing unit (CPU) (not shown) after completingvarious internal reset procedures to gain a stable state, executes thecode stored in the ROM until the device is deactivated or after someperiod of time (for instance, greater than five minutes) the system mayinitiate normal boot-up. It is probably preferable for the travel modeto reside in a high layer of software as boot program. For instance, ifthe CPU does not have to execute basic input/output system software(BIOS), there is less delay in deactivating the computer 100 and lesschance for corrupting files and/or data. So, if possible it is desirableto locate the travel mode software before the BIOS or in a patch of theBIOS, but before system software or application software needs to belaunched.

Whether implemented in a hardware, firmware, or software, the computer100 in a travel mode performs a sequence of activities that simulates(or substantially duplicates) the operation of the computer when it isfirst powered-on. All that is required for simulation is that securitypersonnel may be satisfied that the device functions as a portablepersonal computer is supposed to operate when initially turned-on. It isnot necessary that the device actually function for any other purpose inthe travel mode, although it is possible.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a general sequence of operation forthe travel mode 300 according the general principles of the presentinvention. Essentially, steps 302-310 represent the operation of typicallaptop computer after it is initially turned-off. Most laptops generatesound, LED activation and/or screen activation. Accordingly, in step 302the device is turned-on in the travel mode. The travel mode can beeither selected prior to turning off the computer previously orinitiated as described above in some fashion such as by depressing theairport section of button 206.

Next, in a step 304, the computer 100 activates the hardware (e.g., acontrol unit) or software via a CPU executing code after completinginitial stabilization. In step 306, the computer in accordance with thetravel mode 300, issues a customized routine of attributes. Forinstance, in one example routine the computer 100 issues diagnosticsignals: sounds beeps through the loud speaker 106 and activates theLEDs 102. Another attribute, is for the computer screen to activate anddynamic and/or static text and/or illustration(s). The order of steps306 and 308 can be switched, intertwined, performed simultaneously,repeated, etc. just as long as the computer 100 appears to be actuallyfunctioning as it would normally after being turned-on. Finally, in step310, the computer 100 is turned-off by depressing switch 206 forinstance. And since, the travel mode is implemented in hardware,firmware, and/or software (preferably stored as boot software in ROM)the system can shut-down with no noticeable delay to the user ascompared to when the computer is locked-up as explained above.

While exemplary embodiments have been set forth, various modifications,alterations, and changes may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined in the specification andin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable computer comprising a controlleroperable in a selectable one of: a normal mode in which said controllerexecutes a normal operating system that exhibits an attribute of normaloperation; and a travel mode in which said controller executessimulation software in lieu of said normal operating system to causesaid portable computer to exhibit said attribute and thereby appear tobe operating in said normal mode.
 2. The portable computer as recited inclaim 1 wherein said controller is embodied in a processor of saidportable computer.
 3. The portable computer as recited in claim 1wherein said attribute is a sound.
 4. The portable computer as recitedin claim 1 wherein said attribute is an illustration on a display screenof said portable computer.
 5. The portable computer as recited in claim1 wherein said attribute is activation of a light located on saidportable computer.
 6. The portable computer as recited in claim 1wherein a switch on said portable computer selects between said normalmode and said travel mode.
 7. A method of controlling a portablecomputer, comprising: executing a normal operating system that exhibitsan attribute of normal operation; and alternatively executing simulationsoftware in lieu of said normal operating system to cause said portablecomputer to exhibit said attribute and thereby appear to be operating insaid normal mode.
 8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein saidmethod is performed by a processor of said portable computer.
 9. Themethod as recited in claim 7 wherein said attribute is a sound.
 10. Themethod as recited in claim 7 wherein said attribute is an illustrationon a display screen of said portable computer.
 11. The method as recitedin claim 7 wherein said attribute is activation of a light located onsaid portable computer.
 12. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein aswitch on said portable computer selects between said executing saidnormal operating system and said alternatively executing simulationsoftware.